10/03/2026
DEVELOPING STORY: Liberia–Guinea Border Tension in Lofa County
While it is true that Guinean soldiers reportedly entered Liberian territory today and raised the Guinean flag near the border in Lofa County, it is important that we first establish the full facts and background behind the situation.
The current tension did not start today.
The issue reportedly began on March 2, 2026, during construction work on the Foya–Vahun road project in Lofa County. The road project is being carried out by a Liberian company known as BK Enterprise. As part of the construction process, workers were extracting sand from the Makona River, which lies along the border between Liberia and Guinea.
During the operation, armed Guinean soldiers confronted the construction workers, claiming that the section of the river where sand was being taken falls within Guinean territory. The soldiers reportedly ordered the workers to stop the activity and later seized some construction equipment associated with the sand mining operation. This action forced a temporary halt to the work and immediately raised concerns among local authorities and residents.
Following the incident, the Government of Liberia sent a delegation to the area to engage with Guinean authorities and calm the situation. Discussions reportedly centered on the historical boundary between the two countries and whether the location in question falls within Liberian or Guinean territory. Despite the engagement, the matter was not immediately resolved.
Today, the situation drew national attention after reports emerged that Guinean soldiers raised the Guinean national flag in the disputed area. The development angered some Liberian residents in nearby communities. In response, a group of Liberian civilians reportedly gathered and re-hoisted the Liberian flag while singing the national anthem, expressing their belief that the land belongs to Liberia.
While emotions are high, it is important to understand that border questions between Liberia and Guinea are not new.
Both countries are members of the Mano River Union (MRU), a regional cooperation organization established in 1973 by Liberia and Sierra Leone and later joined by Guinea in 1980 and Côte d’Ivoire in 2008. The union was created to promote peace, economic cooperation, and stability among neighboring states that share the Mano River basin.
Over the years, MRU leaders have repeatedly emphasized the need for peaceful dialogue and diplomatic mechanisms to resolve border and land disputes among member states. Several agreements within the region encourage countries to settle such matters through joint border commissions, negotiations, and technical surveys, rather than through confrontation.
The Liberia–Guinea border itself was historically defined during the colonial period and in part follows natural boundaries such as rivers, including the Makona River. However, in many rural areas the exact demarcation of land along the border has not always been clearly marked on the ground, which sometimes leads to disagreements over territory and resource use.
For now, residents in parts of Foya District, Lofa County, remain concerned about the presence of armed soldiers near their communities. Some reports indicate that schools in nearby areas temporarily closed as a precaution while the situation is being monitored.
Authorities from both Liberia and Guinea are expected to continue diplomatic engagement to address the dispute and prevent the tension from escalating further.
This is a developing story, and more verified updates will follow as information becomes available.
